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Lower lung function and respiratory symptoms are associated with reduced accelerometer-measured physical activity in middle-aged adults

Blomberg, Anders ; Arvidsson, Daniel LU ; Ekblom, Örjan ; Ekblom-Bak, Elin ; Borné, Yan LU ; Caidahl, Kenneth ; Carlén, Anna ; Dencker, Magnus LU ; Ekström, Magnus LU orcid and Eriksson, Maria J , et al. (2026) In Respiratory Medicine p.109036-109036
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) has well-documented cardio-respiratory protective effects in individuals with lung diseases. Whilst most studies examining the relationship between PA, lung function and respiratory symptoms have included self-reported PA data, studies assessing PA objectively using accelerometers are scarce.

AIM: To explore the association of sedentary behavior (SED) and moderate-and-vigorous PA (MVPA), assessed using accelerometer data, with lung function and respiratory symptoms, and to compare associations in ever-smokers with never-smokers, within a large sample of middle-aged individuals.

METHODS: In the population-based, cross-sectional Swedish CArdioPulmonary BioImage Study (SCAPIS), men and women... (More)

BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) has well-documented cardio-respiratory protective effects in individuals with lung diseases. Whilst most studies examining the relationship between PA, lung function and respiratory symptoms have included self-reported PA data, studies assessing PA objectively using accelerometers are scarce.

AIM: To explore the association of sedentary behavior (SED) and moderate-and-vigorous PA (MVPA), assessed using accelerometer data, with lung function and respiratory symptoms, and to compare associations in ever-smokers with never-smokers, within a large sample of middle-aged individuals.

METHODS: In the population-based, cross-sectional Swedish CArdioPulmonary BioImage Study (SCAPIS), men and women aged 50 to 64 years were included. PA was assessed from triaxial hip acceleration data processed into PA intensity categories. Time spent in SED and MVPA was used. Dynamic spirometry (FEV
1 and FVC) was performed post-bronchodilation and respiratory symptoms were self-reported using a questionnaire.

RESULTS: Complete data were obtained from 25,975 individuals (52% females). Lower lung function and presence of respiratory symptoms were both associated with less MVPA, with stronger associations for lung function. An interaction between lung function and smoking status was found, so that each unit of increase in lung function was associated with a greater increase in MVPA among ever-smokers versus never-smokers.

CONCLUSION: Lower lung function and presence of respiratory symptoms were both associated with less MVPA in a general middle-aged Swedish population. In addition, the association between lung function and MVPA were stronger among ever-smokers. Further clinical studies are needed to clarify the role of PA in slowing lung function decline and preventing respiratory diseases.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
in
Respiratory Medicine
pages
109036 - 109036
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:42471218
  • scopus:105045206691
ISSN
1532-3064
DOI
10.1016/j.rmed.2026.109036
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Copyright © 2026. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
id
da4ccabc-704a-4026-b9dd-f2dfe56c78de
date added to LUP
2026-07-21 13:37:27
date last changed
2026-09-17 04:45:51
@article{da4ccabc-704a-4026-b9dd-f2dfe56c78de,
  abstract     = {{<p>BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) has well-documented cardio-respiratory protective effects in individuals with lung diseases. Whilst most studies examining the relationship between PA, lung function and respiratory symptoms have included self-reported PA data, studies assessing PA objectively using accelerometers are scarce.</p><p>AIM: To explore the association of sedentary behavior (SED) and moderate-and-vigorous PA (MVPA), assessed using accelerometer data, with lung function and respiratory symptoms, and to compare associations in ever-smokers with never-smokers, within a large sample of middle-aged individuals.</p><p>METHODS: In the population-based, cross-sectional Swedish CArdioPulmonary BioImage Study (SCAPIS), men and women aged 50 to 64 years were included. PA was assessed from triaxial hip acceleration data processed into PA intensity categories. Time spent in SED and MVPA was used. Dynamic spirometry (FEV<br>
 1 and FVC) was performed post-bronchodilation and respiratory symptoms were self-reported using a questionnaire.<br>
 </p><p>RESULTS: Complete data were obtained from 25,975 individuals (52% females). Lower lung function and presence of respiratory symptoms were both associated with less MVPA, with stronger associations for lung function. An interaction between lung function and smoking status was found, so that each unit of increase in lung function was associated with a greater increase in MVPA among ever-smokers versus never-smokers.</p><p>CONCLUSION: Lower lung function and presence of respiratory symptoms were both associated with less MVPA in a general middle-aged Swedish population. In addition, the association between lung function and MVPA were stronger among ever-smokers. Further clinical studies are needed to clarify the role of PA in slowing lung function decline and preventing respiratory diseases.</p>}},
  author       = {{Blomberg, Anders and Arvidsson, Daniel and Ekblom, Örjan and Ekblom-Bak, Elin and Borné, Yan and Caidahl, Kenneth and Carlén, Anna and Dencker, Magnus and Ekström, Magnus and Eriksson, Maria J and Hedman, Kristofer and Hjelmgren, Ola and Janson, Christer and Lindberg, Eva and Mannila, Maria and Nyberg, André and Sköld, Magnus and Stridsman, Caroline and Svartengren, Magnus and Swahn, Eva and Torén, Kjell and Wadell, Karin and Vanfleteren, Lowie E G W and Zou, Ding and Östgren, Carl Johan and Börjesson, Mats}},
  issn         = {{1532-3064}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{07}},
  pages        = {{109036--109036}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Respiratory Medicine}},
  title        = {{Lower lung function and respiratory symptoms are associated with reduced accelerometer-measured physical activity in middle-aged adults}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2026.109036}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.rmed.2026.109036}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}